Page 35 of Ever Dark Academy, Vol. 7

Tanis blinked rapidly. “I can’t… Well, getting credit is not important. The work is… nothing? There is nothing about me?”

Fiona shook her head. “Not a whisper. And as a Wyvern myself, I would have looked for another strong Wyvern in the Order to ally myself with. You were not there, my dear heart.”

Legion’s scent grew stronger. Grayson bobbed up and down on the balls of his feet. “Ryder, we need to go. The two of us. I’m assuming Legion has scented you.”

Ryder nodded. But his reluctance to lead this debate was clear. Having seen the incredible security there was to get into the Spire, the likelihood of them getting to Seeyr was low. Not without Tanis’ help. And she didn’t seem convinced to help them.

“Don’t do this for us. Don’t even do this for Daemon and our future. Do it for the Order that you want to create, Tanis. If you are one of its leaders then you need to know its secrets, especially the darkest ones like holding Seeyr hostage,” Fiona said.

“If Seeyr is really in the dungeon, I will know it,” Tanis finally said with a firmness that heartened Grayson. “But there is no way that I can get you all inside to see her.”

“Just Fiona and Charlie,” Grayson said. Gesturing to Ryder and Khos, he added, “We need to lead Legion away from here. Out into the wilds. So if we fight with them, they won’t have the thousands here to assist. And we should do it preferably shifted.”

“You will need to be. Once you leave my presence, the glamours will fade,” Charlie said. “Not that they would know your current faces, but it may be problematic.”

They both nodded.

“Where should we meet you?” Ryder asked Fiona.

“The gate to Nightvallen. Regardless of what happens, I think going there next is our safest bet,” she said.

“I agree,” Grayson said. “Good luck, Fiona, Charlie.” His head swung towards Tanis. “It’s hard to realize that everything you’ve thought is a lie. That what you put your faith in is false. That the future goes on without even knowing what sacrifices you made to have it come true. But we will not forget you, Tanis, and your help.”

“Ashyr,” she said quietly with a nod of her head. “I thought this future would not be the Immortals’ but it appears that it is. Again. What will you make of it?”

That was the question, wasn’t it?

Legion’s rotten stink rolled over Grayson and he knew that their time was up. There wasn’t even time to shed their clothes. He met Ryder’s eyes–silver eyes that matched his own–and then he shifted. His raven was joined by a massive Winter Wolf with a white coat that shimmered in the darkness. Khos’ eyes grew wide at Ryder’s magnificent form. It looked like a toy wolf in comparison. With a howl that was designed to get Legion’s attention, the three of them raced off into the maze and towards the west gate into the wilds.

Anyone

Fiona did not wait to see Legion’s horrible face appear. She grabbed Tanis and Charlie and then teleported them the moment Grayson, Ryder and Khos ran off. She swore she nearly felt the whoosh of Legion’s passage at the last minute: hot on the chase.

Stay safe, she sent after her friends.

She hadn’t thought about where she was going, only to get away. Perhaps she’d assumed that she would go a few dozen yards over, just out of sight. Or maybe in a darker part of the rose garden. But she hadn’t anticipated where they did end up: the throne room in the Spire. Or rather, the balcony off of the throne room. She’d teleported here countless times when Caemorn was Preceptor. And something of that memory must have intruded and sent them here now. Her breath caught and she froze like a deer in headlights. Were they about to be caught again?

Gauzy white curtains billowed out of the open doorway. She could see the throne–empty now–and the Glass behind it, milky white with mist. She only let out a breath when she realized that there was no one inside. They were alone.

“How did you teleport us into the Spire?” Tanis gasped as he orientated herself. “No one can do that. Not even you. You always said there was interference.”

“I probably couldn’t when Seeyr ran things here. I haven’t tried since she took Solace back over in the future. But, actually, I’m certain she would let me teleport where I wanted to now,” Fiona answered.

“At least you got us past the guards, Fifi, though there are bound to be quite a bit of people up here. But they’ll assume we belong since we’re already inside and, hopefully, won’t give us as much trouble,” Charlie offered.

“Perhaps we shouldn’t risk being seen at all. Can you teleport us into the dungeon?” Tanis asked.

Fiona shook her head. “I’m surprised we made it here. I was attacked–injured somehow–which is why we were sent back in time in the first place. I didn’t even plan on coming here. I doubt I could teleport us with any precision into the dungeon.”

“But your gift is coming back!” Charlie enthused, always seeing the positive side.

She nodded. “It is indeed.”

She walked towards the curtains. They reached out to her like arms to caress her skin as she passed inside to the throne room. The others hesitated a bit longer to follow after her. Fiona crossed to the doors and pressed her ear against them. She heard a babble of voices outside. She quickly retreated.

“Busy out there. Maybe we should wait here a bit until it's less occupied,” Fiona suggested.

The others nodded though she supposed that group could simply walk in here and then what would they do? She and Charlie were still well disguised and Tanis was a leader so maybe they could talk themselves out of any confusion like they had with the guards.